The Metaphysics Within Physics

Tim Maudlin

Controversial and powerfully argued

Lucid exposition of theories of physics makes them accessible to any philosopher

The Metaphysics Within Physics

Tim Maudlin

Description

What fundamental account of the world is implicit in physical theory? Physics straightforwardly postulates quarks and electrons, but what of the more intangible elements, such as laws of nature, universals, causation and the direction of time? Do they have a place in the physical structure of the world?

Tim Maudlin argues that the ontology derived from physics takes a form quite different from those most commonly defended by philosophers. Physics postulates irreducible fundamental laws, eschews universals, does not require a fundamental notion of causation, and makes room for the passage of time. In a series of linked essays The Metaphysics Within Physics outlines an approach to metaphysics opposed to the Humean reductionism that motivates much
analytical metaphysics.

The Metaphysics Within Physics

Tim Maudlin

Table of Contents

Introduction1. A Modest Proposal Concerning Laws, Counterfacutals, and Explanations2. Why Be Humean3. Suggestions Form Physics For Deep Metaphysics4. On the Passing of Time5. Causation, Counterfactuals, and the Third Factor6. The Whole Ball of WaxEpilogue: A Remark on the Method of Metaphysics

The Metaphysics Within Physics

Tim Maudlin

Reviews and Awards

"This is an elegantly written and enormously stimulating book. It is full of original, provocative, philosophical argumentation. Maudlin shows by example what it is to do the best kind of naturalized metaphysics: one based on thorough acquaintance with real science, but unwilling to accept a superficial analysis of how it bears on deep philosophical problems. Every metaphysician should read it and emulate Maudlin's method, even when disagreeing with his conclusions."--Richard Healey, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews